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The world of Smart TVs didn’t just get smarter, it got smaller. And it’s all thanks to Samsung’s new portable projector – The Freestyle.
Chances are, if you’re living in a HDB or a shoebox condominium unit, you’ve thought through just about every space saving alternative possible, including a projector. So, to give you a sense of its size, The Freestyle is about one and half toilet paper rolls stacked on top of each other.
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The Freestyle’s small stature is packed with a large list of features and arguably, an equally big price tag. But if you’ve been on the hunt for a compact and powerful Smart TV + Projector + Audio System rolled up in one – The Freestyle might just be what you need.
SPECS
PRICE: $1,499
RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080
BRIGHTNESS (LED Lumen): 550 LED Lumen (peak)
SCREEN SIZE: 30” – 100”
DISPLAY TYPE: DLP
PROJECTILE DISTANCE FOR 100”: 2654mm
AUDIO: Dolby Digital Plus, 360 Degrees
POWER SUPPLY: AC100-240V 50/60Hz
DIMENSION: 102.4W x 172.8H x 95.2D (in mm)
WEIGHT: 0.8KG
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With a promised image size of up to 100”, The Freestyle brings you one step closer to that home theatre dream. But in my tiny condominium unit, with a throw distance of 1.7m, movie night could only handle a 55” projected screen (still not bad la).
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Additionally, The Freestyle promises a 1080p full HD with PureColor and HDR viewing experience. For those looking to maximise your Netflix 4K plan or Disney+ subscription, sadly, you won’t be able to.
As a first-time home projector user, the auto-focus and digital keystone correction were welcomed features. It even auto levels the image to ensure it appears straight. But there’s still a bit of manual correction that’s needed to ensure the perfect viewing experience.
With a 180˚ viewing angle, I had to try it in bed. I tried to set The Freestyle on the bed and tilt it up for ceiling projection but the cradle couldn’t hold the angle well without drooping and toppling over – so here’s a pro tip: Place The Freestyle on a firm pillow on the bed, and you’re good to go!
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The Freestyle doesn’t just project visuals, it also comes with a built-in 360 degree speaker for what Samsung claims is an immersive experience. It was sufficiently loud in both my video and music tests at a 60% volume and did a pretty decent job.
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Armed with Tizen OS, this is what puts the smart in Smart TV. The Freestyle comes packed with all the certified OTT apps such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, YouTube and more. You can access the play store on The Freestyle’s Smart Hub system and download Spotify or any other entertainment app easily.
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The remote control has shortcuts for Netflix and other apps, and makes it easy to navigate the system to download other apps.
A big plus has to be that you can also cast your shows on the projector via Samsung SmartThings or AirPlay (that’s right, Apple users).
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Now, the one thing that’s not as freeing as I hoped The Freestyle could be was the need for it to always be connected to power via a USB-C cable. You can, however, connect it to an external battery pack for external usage and is compatible with external batteries that are USB-PD and 650W/20V output or above.
It’s still portable… just not as portable as some of the other projectors in its class.
FOR | AGAINST |
---|---|
• HD picture quality • Easy to set up and navigate with Remote Control • Popular OTT apps supported • Light and portable • 360 degree audio is good for tiny spaces (aka your bedroom) | • Hefty price tag • Heats up quickly but does not affect performance • Cradle doesn’t support steep angles as projector tends to droop |
Well, it’s only 2022, and the world of home projection is bound to get better.
For what it’s worth (and that’s quite a hefty price tag), Samsung’s The Freestyle is a good solution for the average homeowner looking to lie down and enjoy a movie without the need for any additional drilling.
The Freestyle does everything you need and more but it’s also a sign that the next few iterations will only get more amazing.
Check out The Freestyle here.
FEATURES: 8/10
DESIGN: 8/10
PERFORMANCE: 7/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 5/10
OVERALL: 7/10